Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-09-16

L examine the brooch.
Ind al,cnys erani1ee CLOSELY the
faces about me ,phen I take the brooch
IN my hand!
Originally the brooch was nothing
more than o Dutch brass-plate affai,
in setting of common metal 1t. per
haps, did not cost more than quarter,
but to me it was more precious than
gold, for, through it had
made up my mind to unmaslS
the cowardly murderer of the unknown
girl and bring him to the bar of justice
to answer before God and maa for the
foul Geel of blood
| Upon the brass plate OF the brooch
IVES q silhouette Of mans face.
Was it painted thereon by the hand
of the artist?
! No.
Then how came it there?
| / knew.
And now, I think, | have found nv
man.
That is a broad assel ton, but L make
it, fully convinced of the fact that / am
right. To-dav, for the first time in my
life, I hive met tho orig nal of the face
indelibly imprinted upon the rude
Dutch brooch.
1t was mutton that I ordered at
breakfast that morning. The gentleman
seated opposite ordered ham and eggs.
l consulted the brooch, rs was my man
ncr while waiting for the filling of my
order.
1 started as 1 gazed across the table.
1t was my man.
Five years have / been constantly
waiting for his coming-and now, in
small country hotel in one of the En-
pire State inland towns, l greet him.
His order was filled first AS he
lifted his egg from the side-lsh it fell
from his knife to the table. A small
particle of the yellow spattered his
white cuff: he slipped the cuff over
his hand and wiped the stain off with a
napkin.
was again startled.
Upon the bare wrist of the stranger
was the red print of dagger 1t may
have been birthmark. But I thounht
not
After sitting opposite him for three
! meals, I invited him after supper to
have cigar with me. During our
smoke commenced to tell him the fol.
! lowing strange story:
"Once, while 1 was crossing the At
lantic, a fearful storm broke and the
steamer was in danger of being
swamped. 1 had never been at sea in
storm before, and Kept the deck as
mach as possible to view the conflict of
the elements. The waves seemed to
have gig antic teeth as they reared up
out of the darkness and then swooped
down upon the vessel. The lightning
lent its fretful, baleful glare to add ter
rors and create fear in the minds of all
who were on board the steamer. Once
the chain of electric fluid flashed like a
livid serpent for an instant, and
dechhand fell by my side. I assisted
in carrying him below. He had only
received severe shock. Upon his
broad breast was photographed by the
bolt of Jove, the chain and anchor upon
the deck. By the way, that is queer
birthmark-"
"What do you mean, sir?" quickly
interrupted the stranger, drawing
back.
"And upon this brooch your face is in
delibly photographed.
Sir" broke in he as he suddenly rose.
only to find himself grasped from
behind by the constable had ordered
to be present.
cts all up my fine fellow Why you
killed the unknown girl [ cannot say;
but as she lay there dead you gazed
down upon her. Then Jove, the great
photographer OF nature, came with his
electric fluid and placed your face upon
this brooch, and at the same time gave
You, there upon your wrist, the accus-
ing brand of Cain"
And that was all I had to do with the
case, excepting of course having him
turned over to the proper authorities.
Whether or not he confessed and told
why he killed the girl, what interest he
had in her, whether he revealed fully
the strange surroundings of the mys-
terry, lido not know. I only recollect
my portion of the case; and, doubtless,
that would have escaped my mind had
it not been something out of common.
COLD AND not Wd1Er.
A glass of ice water stops digestion
for one hour. Medicine given in ice